DIY Magazine Rack

A few months ago I turned a boring nook in my parent’s basement into an office space with a floating desk. It’s been such an awesome space to get work done in, but since the hidden storage is being used for bigger items, we still needed a spot to keep things like magazines and (unfortunately) bills stacked away. So, I decided to match the shelving unit I made for the record player and create a DIY Magazine Rack that could be hung on the wall. Even better, I only used two power tools to make it happen!

How To Make A DIY Magazine Rack

This project is sponsored by my friends at T-Rex Tape & includes the use of affiliate linking. For my full disclosure policy, click here.

There are a couple of things I really love about this magazine rack. One, it hangs on the wall, so it’s out of the way. Two, it’s a super easy project for beginners. Three, it was a way cheaper alternative than buying a similarly designed organizer from Anthropologie.

Win. Win. Win.

Here’s how I made it happen!

What You’ll Need:

Tools
Miter Saw
Drill
Pocket Hole Jig
T-Rex Ferociously Strong Tape
3/8″ Drill Bit
Countersink Bit (optional)
Sandpaper
Paint Brush

Materials
(2) 1 x 3 x 6′ Boards
(1) 3/8 x 36″ Aluminum Rod
Wood Finish
Wood Glue
CA Glue
Metal Enamel Spray Paint
1 1/4″ Pocket Hole Screws
2 1/2″ Screws

The Steps:

1. Cut your boards to size:

(2) Sides @ 10″ Tall (miter cut one end at 45 degrees)
(1) Bottom @ 30″ Wide (miter cut both ends to fit the side pieces)
(1) Back Panel @

When you’re done cutting, your boards should dry-fit together like this:

2. Next, cut your aluminum bar to size. Aluminum is soft, so you can cut it with a miter saw. I cut mine a little longer than ___.

3. Scuff the bar with sandpaper and then spray it with metal enamel. This will need some time to dry (which is why I sprayed it early).

4. While the aluminum dries, begin to mark where you will be drilling holes for the rod to sit. I made mine 4″ from the bottom of the rack and 1″ inward on both side pieces. You can use whatever measurements you’d like for this.

5. Next, use a 3/8″ bit to create a shallow hole in the piece. I used tape as a guideline for how deep I wanted the hole to be. I made my hole about 1/4″ deep.

6. Once the holes were drilled, I used this time to hand sand the piece to 320 grit.

7. Next, I drilled pocket holes in the back of the backer piece.

8. Once the aluminum bar was dry, it was time to start assembling. I started by using CA glue to attach the bar to the holes I drilled earlier and then attached the back piece using pocket hole screws and wood glue.

9. Next, I attached the bottom piece by gluing the miter joints and firmly attaching them together using T-Rex Ferociously Strong Tape.

10. I then let it dry for a few hours before removing the tape. I was legitimately so shocked at how well the tape worked on this joint! Even better, it left ZERO residue. I’m totally going to use it more often.

11. After removing the tape, I applied a wood finish to the entire shelf.

12. Last step was to hang the magazine rack over the desk! I used a countersink bit to mark my holes and then drilled directly through the backer and into the wall (the screws will be covered by magazines anyway).